Colorado junior quarterback Connor Wood is opting to forego his final season of eligibility and end his football career, the university announced Friday evening.

Wood (6-foot-4, 225 pounds) from Houston’s Second Baptist High School, first enrolled at the University of Texas for the 2010 season but transferred to Colorado after his freshman year. He sat out 2011 due to NCAA transfer rules and competed for CU’s starting job in 2012, which went to Jordan Webb, a transfer from Kansas.

Wood started the first five games of the 2012 season, leading CU to a 2-0 start, before freshman Sefo Liufau took over the reins for the last seven games, which saw the Buffs finish 4-8 overall. He played in seven games overall, completing 84-of-157 passes for 1,103 yards, with eight touchdowns and seven interceptions.

“Connor is a great young man and was a big part of our program,” CU coach Mike MacIntyre said in a statement. “He had a phenomenal game in our win over CSU in our season opener. He means a lot to our program and to our team, but he has decided to graduate and move on to other things in life.”

Wood intends to walk at graduation in May and finish up his requirements for his degree in business by August; he is not looking then to transfer and complete his career elsewhere, according to the announcement.

“First of all, I want to thank my family for sticking by me through the thick and thin,” Wood said in a statement. “Whether I was the starting quarterback or battling for third string, their unwavering support for me was beyond compare. Secondly, I want to thank (Texas) coach Mack Brown for giving me a scholarship and the opportunity for me to pursue my dream of playing college football.

“And mostly, I would like to give a special thanks to the University of Colorado football team, and coach MacIntyre for allowing me to be a member of its family for the last three years. Coach Mac has this program going in the right direction, and I’m excited to see the Buffaloes fight their way back to the top.”

CU will begin spring practice on March 7. As of now, the only two quarterbacks on the roster are Liufau and sophomore redshirt Jordan Gehrke.

WASHINGTON — Thirty games into the 82-game NHL season, and nearly six weeks after the Matt Duchene trade, Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic discussed the state of his team before Tuesday’s 5-2 loss at the Washington Capitals.